Aug 17 (TM) The Govt has decided not to go ahead with the recommendations mentioned in the final report of the One Country, One Law Presidential Task Force (PTF) headed by BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, as many important issues that need to be addressed urgently have arisen in the current situation, and taking into account the objections of several parties. more..

Aug 17 (DM) Adani Green Energy was issued provisional approval for two wind projects of 286MW in Mannar and 234MW in Pooneryn for an investment of over US$500 million, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. He said this while addressing the officials of CEB and Sustainable Development Authority today to discuss the progress of renewable energy projects. Minister said that 21 of the 46 projects that were delayed due to CEB Act amendments will enter into Pvt Partnership more..

Aug 17 (DM) Central Bank said it has lifted the mandatory requirement to convert services export proceeds that are received in SL on or after Aug 12, 2022. The monetary authority said the decision was taken to encourage service exporters to repatriate their export proceeds into the country. “The service exporters may use their export proceeds repatriated to SL for the permitted purposes,” CB said. However, mandatory requirement to receive proceeds of service exports to the country within 180 days more..

Aug 17 (TM) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) JSS Secretary Ananda Palitha has alleged that at a time when the country is facing a shortage of United States dollars (USD), Govt is paying exorbitant rates per barrel of fuel and in demurrages to the UAE-based intermediary, Coral Energy Company, which has links to Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Govt MP Namal Rajapaksa, although both have denied all such allegations. more..

Aug 17 (FT) Advocata Institute’s recently concluded Reset Sri Lanka conference covered numerous areas of necessary reforms across our social and economic landscape. They ranged from reforms in the tax regime to better targeting social safety nets to privatisation and/or restructuring of State-Owned Enterprises. Listening to each of the excellent presentations and panel discussions, there seemed to be one recurrent, underlying thematic root cause across many of these topics. more..

Aug 17 (FT) As a first-year university student, I recall learning Comparative Economics, where my lecturer, using examples from the United States, the UK, Russia, Japan, and India, demonstrated how those countries increased their economic development by adopting various economic systems, including open, socialist, and mixed. Whatever system was adopted; it was apparent to me that the growth of a country’s transportation played a crucial role in its development. more..

Aug 17 (AD) The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027 was launched today (Aug 17) by the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations in Sri Lanka. The UNSDCF is the framework that guides the work of all the UN Agencies in Sri Lanka and articulates the collective vision and contribution of the United Nations to support Sri Lanka to accelerate actions towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. more..

Aug 17 (DM) Egg and chicken sales have drastically dropped due to increasing prices of eggs and chicken in the local market, National Animal Farmers' Union Convener Sujeewa Dhammika said. He said the prices of eggs and chicken were increased due to an increase in the prices of animal feed. The selling price of a white egg in the market is Rs. 63 and a red egg is being sold for Rs. 68. The price of poultry feed and punnakku (kind of oil cake made of coconut pulp) has increased from more..

Aug 17 (PTI) China on Tuesday said the activities of its high-tech research vessel will not affect the security of any country and should not be obstructed by any third party, as the ship berthed at SL's strategic southern port of Hambantota amid Indian and US concerns. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the ship Yuan Wang 5 has successfully berthed at Hambantota Port with active cooperation more..

Aug 17 (CT) Use of the imported and pollutive coal for electricity generation fell by 45.94% (5.66 gWh to 6.66 gWh), Monday (15) over Sunday (14) due to the breakdown of the Norochcholai Coal Fired Power Plant. To meet this mismatch, electricity generated by burning the imported and pollutive diesel oil increased by 700% (8.47 gWh) to 9.68 gWh, Monday over Sunday. The cheapest source of electricity generation to the CEB last year was CEB Hydro, costing a mere Rs 1.67 a unit or more..

Aug 17 (Island) On the instructions of the Agriculture Ministry, the Paddy Marketing Board yesterday began purchasing Yala paddy harvest from farmers. Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that necessary steps have been taken to start the purchasing of paddy at a good price this week and a ministerial paper has already been submitted for the approval of the cabinet. Minister Amaraweera said that the fertilizer distribution program has been very successful. more..

Aug 17 (DM) Former Prez Rajapaksa is set to return to the country on Aug 24, Former SL ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga hinted today. He told the media after giving a statement to the CID on MIG Deal that the former Prez would render a service to the country. When asked whether he was saying it with responsibility, he said he was saying so at this moment. “The date could change. more..

Aug 17 (AD) Minister Kanchana Wijesekera met with commercial management and refinery officials of the Ceylon petroleum Corporation (CPC) this morning to discuss the cargo plans for September to December and refinery operations. He said that the CPC hopes to commence refinery operations this week to operate without any interruptions and a continuous supply of crude oil. “Hope to have the orders confirmed in advance to obtain petroleum products on better premiums,” he said. more..

Aug 17 (ANI) Commenting on Chinese spy vessel Yuan Wang-5 docking in Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that any developments which have a bearing on India's security are obviously of an interest to us. "What happens in our neighbourhood, any developments which have a bearing on our security obviously are of an interest to us," Jaishankar said at a Joint Press Conference after the 9th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting and MoU signing ceremony. more..

Aug 17 (AD) ICC has issued the Men’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2023-27, reaffirming the international calendar for Full Member Nations across formats. Five significant ICC events are included in the future cycle of the ICC’s Future Tours Program, beginning with the Cricket World Cup in India the next year. India will also play joint host with SL in the 2026 T20 World Cup, a first of its kind joint venture in this format. India and SL were joint hosts of the 2011 50-over World Cup along with more..

Aug 17 (TW) Former SL cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya met Malayalam actor Mammootty, who is curently in Lanka in connection with a film shooting. Jayasuriya, who was also the newly-appointed tourism brand ambassador of SL, welcomed more Indian film stars to shoot in SL. “It was an honour to meet Senior Malayalam actor @mammukka. Sir you are a true super star. Thank you for coming to SL. I would like to invite all Indian stars & friends to #VisitSriLanka to enjoy our country,” more..

Aug 17 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe states that the emergency regulations will not be extended further as the situation of the country is getting back to normal and that it will lapse by the end of the week. “But that is not enough. We have to have an attitudinal change and if we do that, then this country will have a future,” said the president, speaking at the 2022 award ceremony of the Organisation of more..

Aug 17 (CI) Despite the rapid and ongoing expansion of T20 leagues around the world, there is an increase in the amount of bilateral international cricket scheduled in the new ICC men's Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the next four years. This includes two Border-Gavaskar series - Test cricket's headline rivalry of the last decade or so - between Australia and India that will, for the first time in over 30 years, be contested over five Tests. The ICC released the 2023-27 FTP on Wednesday, more..

Aug 17 (FT) Govt assured to introduce a new relief package through the interim Budget proposal to assist the public battered by the economic crisis, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. “The cost-of-living has risen to record high-levels as a result of the ongoing economic crisis along with the high exchange rate. This has directly impacted the essential items price hike across the board, burdening the public. Through foreign aid, a program is being planned to support the public via more..

Aug 17 (Island) It would have been better for the country if former Minister Basil Rajapaksa was allowed to leave Sri Lanka when he attempted to do so in early July, NFF leader, Wimal Weerawansa said. “Basil tried to go, but officers at the airport didn’t let him go because passengers opposed it. Three officers at the counters left their duties because a passenger took their photos and threatened them. more..

Aug 17 (DM) As SL students studying overseas are struggling to find their tuition fees amid the on-going forex crisis in the country, the govt seeks multi-party consensus in setting up private universities in the country. Minister Bandula Gunawardena noted that over 300,000 students have left the county to continue their higher studies at foreign institutions with an estimated cost of US$ 2 billion per annum. Due to the prevailing foreign exchange crisis in the country, many of these students more..

Aug 17 (DM) An attempt to export 34 metric tons of restricted metals such as copper and aluminum worth of Rs.15 million to India, which was thwarted by Sri Customs last week was displayed to the media today at the Customs Export Facilitation Centre at the Trico Yard in Grand pass. Officials of the Customs Central Intelligence Directorate (Central Intelligence Unit) received information last week that a shipment of restricted metals was to be smuggled out of the country. more..

Aug 17 (PTI) Enforcement Directorate (ED) has decided to name Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez as an accused in a multi-crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar and others. The federal probe agency is expected to file a fresh (second supplementary) charge sheet or prosecution complaint in this case on Wednesday before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi and, the actor has been more..

Aug 17 (EN) Sri Lanka will benefit from the UK’s new trade concessionary scheme Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) that will replace the GSP+ in that country and will be in force from 2023. “The UK’s new Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) is one of the most generous sets of trading preferences of any country in the world, and will benefit SL by boosting the economy and supporting jobs,” British High Commissioner to SL Sarah Hulton said in a tweet on Tuesday (16). more..

Aug 17 (TM) British State Minister for South Asia, UN, and Commonwealth Lord Tariq Ahmed has assured that the UK Govt looks forward to working with the Govt of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to resolve economic and social issues faced by Sri Lanka, while Britain launched a scheme to extend tariff cuts on hundreds of products, such as clothes and food, from developing countries, including Sri Lanka. more..

Aug 17 (EN) SL’s Customs Dept has seized contraband including narcotics worth a total of 450 million rupees in less than 24 hours. 9.5kg gold biscuits and 5kg of cocaine were seized on Wednesday (17). The department detained 9.5kg of gold biscuits valued at 205 million rupees attempted to be smuggled into the island. Two people have been arrested over the gold biscuits, one of the arrested was an employee of a prominent airport shop while the other was a passenger more..

Aug 17 (FT) The SL Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM) recently appointed their new office-bearers for 2022/23, at the Annual General Meeting held recently. Ashique Ali was appointed as Chairman of SLASSCOM for the year 2022/2023. He is the Managing Director of Talliance, and is a veteran in the industry with over 30 years of experience. As a founding member of SLASSCOM, he has played an integral role in supporting the chamber’s initiatives, more..

Aug 17 (TM) Ministry of Defence clarified the decision to de-proscribe 316 individuals and six organisations, stating that these entities were involved in terrorism financing-related activities earlier, but no longer appeared to be involved in any such activities. “Accordingly, among the aforesaid 577 individuals and 18 organisations, a decision was made to delist 316 individuals and six organisations, since they no longer continue more..

Aug 17 (TM) Cabinet approval has been granted to the Cabinet paper submitted by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe for the implementation of national guidelines and minimum standards for child development centres in the country. Guidelines and policies prepared at the provincial level for child development centres are already being implemented in order to provide quality services for children in the future. However, there was a lack of nationally recognised guidance in this regard, more..

Aug 17 (AD) With the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) granting permission to CEB to increase power tariffs, the off-peak and daytime tariff applicable to industries has increased exponentially. The initial proposal by the PUCSL suggested the off-peak industrial electricity tariff be increased from Rs 6.85 to Rs 14.50 and the daytime tariff be increased from Rs 11.00 to Rs 18.50. In response, the Joint Apparel Association (JAAF) submitted counter proposals at the stakeholder consultation, more..

Aug 18 (DM) Literally, yes, where one ends the other starts and apart from that common boundary there can be no overlap. On the other hand, it all depends on who gets to draw the lines and how. Where does East begin? Can such a question prompt an unequivocal answer? For decades the Berlin Wall served as a proxy for an East-West boundary. It was a line that was essentially determined by political and ideological preferences. Strictly speaking any line from the North Pole to the South could more..

Aug 18 (CT) Yesterday this newspaper, quoting Cabinet spokesman Bandula Ginawardene, said that the ban lifted on several Tamil Diaspora groups was lifted as a result of observation and careful study over a continuous period of time. The JVP insurrection of 29 July 1987-13 Nov 1989 which was responsible for 50,000 deaths in the South, however, saw the Govt lifting its proscription in only four years later in 1993, which proscription was previously in force since 1983. more..

Aug 18 (CT) The growing sense of lawlessness has caused a stir in SL society, with bodies washing up ashore with alarming frequency and shots fired in broad daylight. Since 1 Jan 2022 to 8 Aug, 35 people had been gunned down in various parts of the island and the recent shooting inside the Mt. Lavinia courthouse can be considered as the pinnacle of these cases. Gunman fired inside the courtroom in the presence of 16 policemen. more..

Aug 18 (CT) Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected Prez of SL with an overwhelming support from majority of the Sinhalease community in Nov 2019 and the same Gotabaya Rajapaksa was overthrown form the presidency and forced to leave the country by massive crowds led again by the Sinhalease majority in July 2022. The reason for the outright rejection of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime was his arrogant dictator-type decision-making and undemocratic practices, such as more..

Aug 18 (DM) Speaking at the Reform Now conference organized by the Advocata Institute, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe revealed that the agreement with the IMF regarding the grant for a restructuring facility which could enable the country to come out of its near bankrupt situation had been postponed to September. He added the political instability of the past few months had caused the delay. But IMF/World Bank bailouts come with strict conditions on curtailment of expenditure and more..

Aug 18 (TM) SL has disbursed a total of $ 968.8 million in foreign funds to finance high priority projects and to address financial needs such as importing essentials in the first quarter of this year, the Ministry of Finance stated. Out of the total foreign financing disbursements made during the period from 1 Jan to 30 April, $ 968.1 million had been disbursed as loans while $ 0.7 m had been disbursed by way of grants, more..